I know you’ve probably heard of Tom Peters. He is, in my mind, THE leadership guru. Recently at a $75,000 talk for 90 minutes, he condensed all of his worldly advice in two pages. I thought you might enjoy reading what he has to say!

So here is raw advice from the premier leadership guru of our time. Thank you to Alan Collins, Founder of Success in HR, for bringing this to my attention.

Stay cool everyone!

Corliss McGinty

Tom Peter’s Wisdom

EXCELLENCE. Now. EXCELLENCE. Always.
by Tom Peters

1. People first, second, third, fourth … The “business” of leaders is people: to inspire/engage/provide a trajectory of opportunity—enterprise of every size and type as “cathedral” for human development. “When I hire someone, that’s when I go to work for them.”—John DiJulius

1A. Customer comes 2nd. If you want to best “Wow!” customers then you must first Wow! those who serve the customers. “If you want staff to give great service, give great service to staff.”—Ari Weinzweig, Zingerman’s. “You have to treat your employees like customers.”—Herb Kelleher, on his #1 “secret to success”.

1B. Manager’s sole raison d’etre: Make each of my team members successful!

1C. Effective organizations: No bit players!

1D. Appreciation. Acknowledgement. “The deepest human need is the need to be appreciated.”—Believe it! A few kind words are often remembered for years!

1E. 1st line supervisors. Every organization’s … most important … leadership cadre. Productivity is largely determined by the caliber of the 1st line boss. Selection and development of your “sergeants” must become an “obsession”—almost all do a half-assed job.

1F. Weird. There are no “normals” in the history books! Ensure a healthy supply of oddballs ! Diversity of every flavor = Fresh perspectives! Better decisions!

1G. Memories That Matter. And Don’t.”People stuff” sticks with you: You’ll look back on the handful of people you developed who proceeded to change the world—and the multitude (if you’ve earned it) who say, “I grew most when I worked with you.” Ever seen a tombstone engraved with the deceased’s net worth?

2. You/me: Businesses no longer coddle. You’re in charge! “Brand you”—stand out for something valuable, or else; learn something new every day, or else! “Distinct or Extinct!”

3. Organizations Exist to Serve. PERIOD.

4. EXECUTION. Don’t forget to tuck the shower curtain into the bath tub.”—Conrad Hilton on his “sweat the details” obsession and #1 “success secret”. Execution is strategy.”—Fred Malek
“Execution is the leader’s job #1.”—Larry Bossidy

4A. “They do … ONE big thing at a time.”—Drucker on successful managers’ #1 trait.

5B. “What do you think?” “How can I help?”—MBWA 8/Eight words, repeated like a mantra while “wandering around,” that unlock engagement/success for multitudes.

5C. Innovate by “Hanging out”. ”You are what you eat.” “You will become like the five people you associate with the most—a blessing or a curse.”. Want “cool”? Expose yourself to cool! Manage “hanging out” zealously-formally—with customers, interesting outsiders, etc.

9. Web-Social Media/“Everyone becomes our valued partner, a member of our community—and watchdog“ . The Power of Co-creation—my “Top Biz Book 2010″ SM lynchpin of transformative strategy—for organizations of every shape and size!

11. Innovation “secret” #1: “Most tries wins.”/“A Bias for Action”—excellence trait #1, In Search of Excellence/“Ready. Fire! Aim.”—Ross Perot. “Instead of trying to figure out the best way to do something and sticking to it, just try out an approach and keep fixing it.”—Bert Rutan. “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.“—Wayne Gretzky